Method and apparatus for precision injection molding

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for injection molding of a fiber optic ferrule including the use of adjustable core and receiver members adjustable from the exterior of the mold to precisely locate a projecting wire member in a mold where a score pin defines an interior passage in the molded ferrule and the projecting wire forms a small diameter longitudinal hole in the ferrule communicating with an outer end of the interior passage so that the interior passage and small diameter hole are precisely located relative to the body of the molded ferrule.

This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 08/868,047, filed Jun.3, 1997 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an alignment ferrule which is made frominjection molded plastic and is intended for use in a fiber opticconnector or the like. Such ferrules are commonly referred to as 2.5 mmferrules, and each such ferrule has a main axial passage to receive afiber optic cable. The passage terminates in a very small diameter holefor receiving a projecting fiber optic member. In use, a pair of suchferrules are positioned in abutting relation in a fiber optic connectorso a corresponding pair of fiber optics may be precisely abutted inend-to-end relation for transmission of an optical signal.

The effectiveness of such a connection between two or more fiber opticmembers depends upon the precision of the alignment of the abuttingfiber optic members. If such fiber optic members are not preciselyaligned with one another, a resulting loss of signal will impair theeffectiveness of the connection. Due to the minute tolerances associatedwith fiber optic connectors, known molding technology has not been ableto produce products within specified limitations. Known moldingtechnology yields tolerances to the fourth decimal point at best,whereas fiber optic technology demands tolerance limitations to at leastthe fifth decimal point. Therefore, one object of the present inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for adjusting out excessive tolerancesassociated with known molding technology.

The present invention relates to a combination of adjustable core andreceiver members which serve to precisely locate a core pin and also aprojecting wire member in a mold for purposes of injection molding ofalignment ferrules of the type above described. As is known in the art,such a core pin is positioned in the mold, and plastic material ismolded around the core pin during a molding operation to form thedesired 2.5 mm plastic ferrule. Thus, a portion of the body of the corepin defines an axial opening or passage in the ferrule for receiving afiber optic cable. In addition, the small diameter wire projecting fromone end of the core pin defines a small diameter hole at one end of themolded ferrule which receives and holds the fiber optic member which isto be precisely aligned with a like fiber optic member in a fiber opticconnector or the like.

A method intended to increase the accuracy of molding a conicalconnector plug for a biconical fiber optic connector is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 5,034,170. The method disclosed in the '170 patent is formolding of a hollowed-out, apertured, conical plug which has aprojecting pedestal at its small or forward end and a small diameterlongitudinal hole in the pedestal to hold and position a projectingfiber optic member. The foregoing patent in FIG. 2 shows use of a pairof inner and outer conical cams 40 and 42 to increase the accuracy ofthe pedestal hole relative to the axis of the molded plug.

More specifically, the '170 patent in FIG. 2 shows a core pin 36 havinga forward conical end in which is mounted a stepped pin 38. The steppedpin 38 comprises an extension of the core pin 36 and its smallest endprojects into a small hole formed at the base of a recess 39 formed inthe front face 43 of an inner cam member 40. By selective rotation ofthe inner and outer cams 40 and 42, the small hole at the base of theindentation 39 in the front face 43 of the inner cam 40 can be moved toa desired location relative to the longitudinal axis of the mold cavitywhich forms the plug 32.

By repositioning that hole into which the small end of the stepped pin38 projects, it is possible to control the position of the small end ofthat stepped pin and thereby control with increased accuracy thelocation of the hole which is formed in the molded pedestal on the frontof the molded plug 32. In the foregoing manner, it is possible tocontrol the location of the axis of the pedestal hole relative to theaxis of the plug profile.

The present invention is significantly different from the disclosure inU.S. Pat. No. 5,034,170 in many significant respects. According to thepresent invention, a pair of inner and outer rotatable nested cylindersare used to increase the accuracy of locating a hole in the moldfixture. However, beyond that there is little similarity in therespective inventions.

According to the present invention, the object to be molded is analignment ferrule which is generally cylindrical in configuration andhas a relatively large passage to receive a fiber optic cable, thepassage being in communication with a small longitudinal hole to receiveand position a fiber optic which is to be abutted with another suchfiber optic in a connector or the like.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for injectionmolding of a plastic alignment ferrule. The apparatus includes twodifferent nested cylinder assemblies, and each assembly preferablycomprises a pair of inner and outer cylinders which are both rotatableand where the inner cylinder includes an eccentric locating aperture inits end face for receiving and positioning a mold element. Rotation ofthe outer cylinder will carry the inner cylinder with it thereby causingthe eccentric aperture in the end face of the inner cylinder to move toits true center on the “Y” axis. Rotation of the outer cylinder whileholding the inner cylinder will cause the eccentric aperture in the endface of the inner cylinder to move to its true center on the “X-Y” axis.Accordingly, by a combination of cylinder rotations, the locatingaperture in the end face of the inner cylinder may be located preciselyin a desired position.

An important feature of the present invention involves the use of twonested cylinder assemblies of the foregoing type. A first assemblyincludes an inner cylinder having a relatively large opening to receiveand support a core pin which is used as a mold element to form aninternal fiber optic cable passage in a molded plastic ferrule. A secondassembly includes an inner cylinder having a very small hole to receiveand support a small wire which projects axially from the end of the corepin, whereby operation of the second assembly will serve to locate theprojecting wire in a precise manner.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention there are two nestedcylinder assemblies which respectively locate independently and in aprecise manner both a core pin and also a small wire projecting from oneend of the core pin. In the foregoing manner, it is possible to assurethat not only the core pin itself is accurately located and alignedrelative to the mold cavity for molding the plastic ferrule, but alsothere is an independent cylinder assembly which controls in a precisemanner the location of a small wire which projects from the end of thecore pin and serves the purpose of defining a tiny hole in the moldedferrule for receiving and locating a fiber optic which projects from afiber optic cable and is to be abutted in precise mating relation with alike fiber optic in a fiber optic connector.

In accordance with the invention as above described, one inner cylindermember adjusts the position of a core pin in a mold, and a second innercylinder member adjusts the position of a projecting wire which projectsfrom the forward end of the core pin. The mold parting line istransverse to the longitudinal axis of the mold cavity with the resultthat the foregoing projecting wire will repeatedly be inserted andwithdrawn from the small eccentric hole in the second inner cylindermember as the mold is closed and opened. However, it is preferred tohave the mold halves open and close in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the molded alignment ferrule to avoid any parting line flash onthe outer diameter of the molded ferrule. The adjustable core andreceiver concept of the present invention thus involves adjustment ofboth the core and the receiver to their true centers by mounting boththe core pin and receiver into corresponding inner eccentric cylinders.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the adjustment ofthe core pin and the receiver are accomplished when the mold is removedfrom a molding press and each of the two cylinder assemblies is locatedin a respective half of the mold. Such adjustment is accomplished by useof known inspection equipment whereby an operator can locate theeccentric hole in each of the two inner cylinders into a desiredposition and then lock the two inner cylinders in position to preciselylocate independently both the core pin itself and the projecting wiremember when the mold halves are subsequently inserted into a moldingpress and closed. The foregoing contrasts with the method disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,034,170 where the adjustment is made while the mold ispositioned in a molding press. The method and apparatus of the presentinvention have application to 2.5 mm single mode and multimode fiberoptic technology.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a combinationof adjustable core and adjustable receiver means for use in the moldingof alignment ferrules known as 2.5 mm ferrules so as to assure not onlythe precise location in the mold of a core pin per se, but also toindependently assure the precise location of a small diameter wireprojecting from the core pin. In the foregoing manner, not only is theprojecting wire precisely located, but in addition the wire ismaintained in a straight or longitudinal position due to the independentlongitudinal alignment and positioning of the core pin from which thewire projects.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of our invention will beapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a pair of mold halves in closedposition in a molding press, the mold halves including a pair of nestedcylinder assemblies for locating mold insert members in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the moldcomponents of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of a 2.5 mm plasticferrule of the type which is molded according to the method andapparatus of the present invention:

FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a cylinder assemblycomprising a cylinder housing and a pair of nested cylinders whichcomprise components of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5a through 5 g comprise schematic illustrations of variouspositions of the nested cylinders of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section view of an alternative embodiment of a pairof mold halves; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mold halves of FIG. 6.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofmaking and using our invention, there will be described, in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a pair of mold halves in closed position in a molding pressfor molding a 2.5 mm plastic ferrule in accordance with the presentinvention. There is shown a first cylinder housing member 20 which has acylindrical bore to receive an outer cylinder 22 which may be rotated inthe housing 20. The outer cylinder 22 has an eccentric hole or boreformed therein to receive an inner rotatable cylinder 24 which has atiny eccentric hole formed in its lower face as viewed in FIG. 1. Aswill be described more fully later herein, adjustment of the foregoingcylinder members is intended to be accomplished when the mold halves areremoved from the molding press and separated from one another.

FIG. 1 shows a parting line P/L which indicates the line of separationbetween the upper and lower mold halves. Beneath the parting line P/L. asecond cylinder assembly is shown comprising a second cylinder housingmember 26, and a second outer rotatable cylinder 28 which is rotatablein the housing 26 and includes an eccentric bore to receive a secondinner rotatable cylinder 30 which is provided with an eccentric bore orhole in its upper face which is substantially larger than that formed inthe inner cylinder 24. As will be described more fully, each of theinner rotatable cylinders 24 and 30 serves a locating function toprecisely locate a mold insert member. As shown in FIG. 1, with theupper and lower mold halve in closed position in a molding press, themolten plastic material is injected at a plastic inlet 32 and flows downthrough a passage 34 to a horizontal molten plastic passage 36.

In the embodiment illustrated, two mold cavities are shown forsimultaneous molding of two plastic ferrule members, and for that reasonthe plastic passage 36 extends both left and right from the lower end ofpassage 34. However, only the left-hand cavity in FIG. 1 will bedescribed. The molten plastic passage 36 extends to the left to a moldcavity which is defined by the lower face of the upper rotatablecylinder 24, the upper face of the lower rotatable cylinder 30, a moldelement 39 which is located in the upper mold half and has a centralbore 41 to define the ferrule body, and a core pin 40 having a smallerdiameter upper end portion 46 which is located in bore 41 and from whichprojects a much smaller diameter wire 48 as shown in FIG. 2. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, a second mold element 39′ is located in thelower mold half in abutting relation at the mold parting line with thefirst mold element 39 and mold element 39′ has a central bore 41′ whichis aligned with bore 41 to define a mold cavity for molding the ferrulebody.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which is an enlarged sectional view ofthe left-hand mold cavity of FIG. 1, and also to FIG. 3 which is anenlarged detail view of a 2.5 mm ferrule of the type which is molded inthe above-described mold cavity in accordance with the presentinvention. The lowermost inner rotatable cylinder 30 has a stepped boretherein to receive the core pin 40. The lower end of the core pin isshown at 42 which is the largest diameter portion thereof. Above theportion 42 is a smaller diameter core pin portion 44, and the upper endof the core pin which is the smallest diameter portion thereof is shownat 46. Projecting upwardly from the upper end of the core pin segment 46is a small diameter wire 48.

The purpose of the foregoing will be better understood with reference toFIG. 3 which illustrates a 2.5 mm plastic ferrule of the type which ismolded in accordance with the method and apparatus of the presentinvention. The ferrule is generally indicated at 50 and includes acylindrical body 52 and a flange 54. As is known in the art, thecylindrical body 52 has an outer diameter of 2.5 mm throughout itslength except for the larger diameter flange 54. The ferrule 50 isformed with an internal passage 56 which is intended to receive a fiberoptic cable. At the upper end of the passage 56 as viewed in FIG. 3,there is a small diameter hole 58 which extends from the passage 56 tothe outer face 60 of the ferrule. By way of example, the hole 58 mayhave a diameter of 125 microns. As is known in the art, a fiber opticcable is inserted into the passage 56 so a projecting fiber opticmember, from which outer layers of insulation have been removed, extendsthrough the small diameter hole 58 with its extreme end flush with theface 60.

It will be understood that in use such a ferrule will be abutted with alike ferrule in which a fiber optic is positioned in the small diameterhole 58, and the two ferrules will be abutted in end-to-end relation ina connector or the like to effect an abutting connection between theends of the two fiber optic members. A 2.5 mm alignment ferrule of theforegoing type and the manner in which a fiber optic element is locatedtherein for abutting with a like fiber optic element is described inSchofield, Stonikas and McGinley U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,133, entitled FiberAlignment Ferrule With Polishing Pedestal, and assigned to the assigneeof the present invention.

The function of the mold insert elements shown in FIG. 2 will beunderstood from the molded ferrule shown in FIG. 3. Thus, it is thesmall diameter portion 46 of the core pin 40 (see FIG. 2) which formsthe passage 56 in the ferrule 50 during an injection molding operation.The shape of the core pin portion 46 corresponds to the shape of thepassage 56 in the ferrule 50. Moreover, the above-mentioned projectingwire 48 which extends upwardly from the upper end of the core pin 40 asviewed in FIG. 2 serves to form the small diameter passage 58 in theupper end of the plastic ferrule 50 as viewed in FIG. 3. Accordingly,the diameter of the wire 48 controls the diameter of the passage 58which in turn receives and controls the position of a fiber optic memberwhen two such ferrules 50 are utilized in a fiber optic connector.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the concentricity of the small diameterpassage 58 relative to the longitudinal axis or true center of theferrule body 52 is extremely important because that concentricity, whichpreferably is maintained within three microns, determines the accuracyof fiber optic alignment when two such ferrules are mounted in aconnector for the purpose of abutting two fiber optic elements inend-to-end relation to effect an optical connection therebetween. Aspreviously explained, such fiber optic elements are extremely sensitiveto any misalignment which results in a loss of signal. A significantfeature of the present invention resides in the use of two separaterotatable cylinder assemblies, one of which is located in the lower moldhalf as viewed in FIG. 2 to control the position of the core pin 40, andthe other of which is located in the upper mold half to control theposition of the projecting wire element 48.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it would be possible to control the locationof the projecting wire element 48 and thus of the fiber optic passage 58in the ferrule 50 by use only of the cylinder assembly in the upper halfof the mold shown in FIG. 2. However, if the core pin 40 itself were notprecisely positioned and aligned, control only of the wire element 48relative to the longitudinal axis of the mold cavity could result inundesirable bending of the wire element 48 and thereby cause formationof a passage 58 which is not precisely longitudinal. In accordance withthe present invention, the use of the second cylinder assembly in thelower half of the mold effects precise positioning and alignment of thecore pin 40 itself relative to the longitudinal axis of the mold cavity.

As a result, with both the core pin 40 and the projecting wire 48independently positioned and aligned in a precise manner relative to thelongitudinal axis of the mold cavity, the resulting molded ferrule 50 asshown in FIG. 3 is precise in the sense that the main fiber opticpassage 56 is concentrically located and aligned relative to thelongitudinal axis or true center of the ferrule body 52 and, inaddition, the small diameter fiber optic passage 58 is alsoconcentrically located and aligned relative to the longitudinal axis ortrue center of the ferrule body 52.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper inner rotatable cylinder 24 has a smallopening which receives the projecting wire element 48 when the moldhalves are in closed position in the molding press. In addition, thelower inner rotatable cylinder 30 has an eccentric hole to receive andsupport the lower end of the core pin 40 so that adjustment of thecylinder 30 controls the position of the core pin 40 in the mold.

FIG. 2 shows the upper inner cylinder 24 which abuts against the top ofthe upper mold plate 39 and has a recessed central portion which definesone end of the mold cavity and includes the tiny hole to receive thewire element 48. The lower inner cylinder 30 has a frustum-shaped upperend that is received in a conical recess in the underside of the lowermold plate 39′. It should be understood that the various inner and outercylinders are rotated for adjustment purposes and locked in positionprior to being inserted into the molding press and closed as shown inFIG. 2.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 and 5a through 5 g for a description ofthe operation of the two cylinder assemblies of the present invention.Since the two cylinder assemblies are essentially the same, except thatthe upper inner cylinder 24 has only a small diameter opening to receivethe projecting wire 48, while the lower inner cylinder 30 has a largerstepped passage to receive and support the core pin 40, only the uppercylinder assembly will be described because their operation isessentially the same.

Bearing in mind that FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5a through 5 g are schematicillustrations, FIG. 4 shows the cylinder housing 20 having a bore 21 forreceiving the rotatable outer cylinder 22. The outer cylinder 22 has aneccentric bore 23 formed therein to receive the inner rotatable cylinder24. The inner cylinder 24 has a small eccentric hole 25 formed in itsfront face which as explained above in conjunction with FIG. 2 serves toreceive and position the projecting wire 48.

FIG. 5a shows the outer rotatable cylinder 22 having an eccentric bore23. FIG. 5b shows the inner cylinder 24 having an eccentric hole 25, andFIG. 5c shows the inner cylinder 24 positioned in the bore 23 forrotation therein. FIG. 5d illustrates the cylinders of FIG. 5c after theouter cylinder 22 has been rotated in a clockwise direction therebycarrying the inner cylinder 24 with it to change the position of thehole 25 from that shown in dotted lines to the position shown in solidlines. FIG. 5e illustrates the solid line position of the hole 25. FIG.5f represents a further clockwise rotation of outer cylinder 22, butwith inner cylinder 24 being held against rotation. In the latterinstance, the hole 25 has been moved from the dotted line position tothe solid line position shown in FIG. 5f, the solid line position beingshown in FIG. 5g.

The foregoing illustrates the manner in which a pair of inner and outerrotatable cylinders may be rotated either by rotating the outer cylinderand permitting the inner cylinder to be carried along, or by rotatingthe outer cylinder while holding the inner cylinder against rotation.When the outer cylinder 22 is rotated clockwise as illustrated in FIG.5d, the eccentric hole 25 is located on its true “Y” axis as shown byFIGS. 5d and 5 e. When the outer cylinder 22 is again rotated clockwisewhile holding the inner cylinder 24 against rotation, the eccentric hole25 is located on true center on the “X-Y” axis as shown in FIGS. 5f and5 g. Thereafter, the inner cylinder is locked in its desired position.

As previously explained, the inner cylinder 24 in the upper half of themold as shown in FIG. 2 is designed to have a very small hole to receiveand control the position of the wire element 48 when the mold is closed.In addition, the inner cylinder 30 in the lower half of the mold isdesigned to have a larger opening to receive and support the lower end42, 44 of the core pin 40 so that the upper portion 46 of the core pinmay be adjustably positioned concentric with the mold cavity which formsthe ferrule body 52 as shown in FIG. 3.

When the mold halves are opened and removed from the molding press, thedesired adjustments are made to the inner and outer cylinder members 22,24, 28 and 30 to place the core pin 40 and also the wire element 48which projects from the core pin in precise locations relative to theaxis of the mold cavity which forms the ferrule body 52. After suchadjustments are made, the inner cylinders are locked in their desiredpositions by various locking screws shown at 60 in FIG. 2. Thereafter,the mold halves are inserted into the molding press and closed to theposition shown in FIG. 2 for an injection plastic molding operation.

When the mold halves are in closed position as shown in FIG. 2, the wireelement 48 (FIG. 2) is located in the eccentric hole 25 (FIGS. 5a-g) ofthe inner cylinder 24. Also, the core pin 40 is supported in acomparable but larger eccentric opening in the inner cylinder 30 in thelower half of the mold. As the mold opens, the core pin 40 remainsmounted in the lower inner cylinder 30 while the wire element 48 iswithdrawn from the upper inner cylinder 24.

It should be understood that in describing the upper and lower moldhalves in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terms “upper” and “lower” are used by wayof example only due to the orientation of the drawings. The moldingpress may be located horizontally so that the portion of the moldreferred to as “upper” may be termed the front half of the mold and themold portion referred to as the “lower” half of the mold may be termedthe back half of the mold.

FIG. 6 shows a pair of mold halves in closed position in a molding pressfor molding a 2.5 mm plastic ferrule having an end face with a smalldiameter passage therein having a diameter of 0.005 inches in accordancewith an alternative embodiment of the present invention. There is showna first cylinder housing member 120 which has a cylindrical bore toreceive an outer cylinder 122 which may be rotated in the housing 120.The outer cylinder 122 has an eccentric hole Or bore formed therein toreceive an inner rotatable cylinder 124 which has a tiny eccentricalformed bore in a receiver 140 at its lower face. The inner rotatablecylinder 124 serves a locating function to precisely locate a moldinsert member or wire.

FIG. 1 shows a parting line which indicates the line of separationbetween the upper and lower mold halves. Beneath the parting line, asecond cylinder assembly is shown comprising a second cylinder housingmember and a second outer cylinder. In the alternative embodiment shownin FIG. 6, the lower mold half below the parting line 125 is notadjustable and is fixed in its position. However, the upper mold half,above the parting line 125 is adjustable as will be explained in furtherdetail below. The upper mold half is adjustable in order to finelyadjust the forward portion of the ferrule being injection molded withinthe mold halves. However, the rear portion of the ferrule does not needthe fine adjustment required at the forward portion and in thisalternative embodiment, the second housing member 126 and second outercylinder 128 are fixed in position. Thus, the lower mold half whichcontrols the position of the core pin in the alternative embodiment ispermanently positioned while the upper mold half which controls theposition of the projecting wire element which controls the orientationof the passage within the ferrule is adjustable. It is noted that thedescription herein is for mold halves for injection molding of polymerferrules, however, the present invention may be used for other purposebesides injection molding and may also include but not be limited to analignment apparatus.

With the upper and lower mold halves in a closed position in a moldingpress, the molten plastic material is injected at a plastic inlet to amold element 139. In the alternative embodiment, the mold element 139includes four gates for receiving molten plastic material therethrough.The use of multiple gates allows for the rapid filling of the moldelement 139 and reduces any appearance of a mid-line on the ferrule bodybeing molded. The mold element 139 is similar to that described in theprevious embodiments and the operation of the mold element and itsfeatures as described before are incorporated in this alternativeembodiment.

The lower cylinder 128 includes a stepped bore 129 to receive the corepin 144 which is located with the mold element 139. The lower end of thecore pin 144 has the largest diameter portion thereof. The core pin 144is surrounded by the mold element 139. Projecting upwardly from theupper end of the core pin 144 is a small diameter wire. In a preferredembodiment, the wire is inserted in a stainless steel tubing and crimpedtherein. The tubing containing the wire is then inserted within the boreof the core pin 144 so that the wire protrudes beyond the core pin 144and is received by a receiver 140 of the inner cylinder 124. The moldingprocedure of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 6 is identical to thatas discussed for FIGS. 2 and 3 mentioned above.

The alternative embodiment of the invention as depicted in FIG. 6attains the same result as described above for FIGS. 1-5 inindependently positioning and aligning the projecting wire contained bythe inner rotatable cylinder 124, in a precise manner relative to thelongitudinal axis of the mold cavity so that the resulted molded ferruleis precise, in that the small diameter fiber optic passage isconcentrically located and aligned relative to the longitudinal axis ortrue center of the ferrule body. However, in the first embodimentdiscussed, the mold cavities must be removed from the press in order toaccomplish the realignment of the rotatable cylinders. In thealternative embodiment, the mold has been modified so that the alignmentof the rotatable cylinders may occur while the mold halves are in thepress and without removal therefrom. This is accomplished by having theouter cylinder 122 and inner cylinder 124 having protruding collars131,133, protruding beyond the end of the housing 120. The collars131,133 protrude into an open passage 135. The inner collar 131 and theouter collar 133 include adjustment sockets 137,145 which are arrangedaround the perimeter of the collars 131,133. By insertion of a toolthrough the open passage 135 into the adjustment sockets 137,145, theinner and outer cylinders 122,124 maybe rotated in correspondence toeach other. As the bore of the outer cylinder 122 is eccentric, rotationof the outer cylinder 122 or inner cylinder 124 separately or incorrepondence to each other provides for the alignment of a receiver 140at the end of the inner cylinder which positions the wire element. Oncethe inner and outer cylinders 122,124 are in the desired alignmentposition, the cylinders may be locked via a locking member 150 which isalso accessible from outside of the press and may allow for securementof the cylinders without removing the tool from the press. In apreferred embodiment, the locking member is a rod 150 having a lockingsurface having a 5° angle corresponding to the 5° angle of the top ofthe inner collar 131 which also is curved at 5°. Upon full insertion ofthe rod 150 within the mold, its locking surface prohibits rotation ofthe inner and outer cylinders 122,124.

Turning to FIG. 7, a plan view of the mold of FIG. 6 is shown. Thehousing 120 includes the inner and outer cylinders therein. Adjacent thehousing 120 is open passage 135. Protruding from the end of the housingwithin passage 135 are inner collar 131 and outer collar 133. The innercollar 131 is integrally attached to the inner cylinder and the outercollar 133 is integrally attached to the outer cylinder. Adjustmentsockets 137,145 surround the collars 131,133. By insertion of a toolwithin the sockets 137,145 adjustment of the inner and outer cylindersmay be achieved without removing the tool from the press. Upon alignmentof the cylinders in the desired position, locking members may beadjusted in order to lock the cylinders in the desired position.

FIG. 7 shows the alternative embodiment having lower housing 143 havingcylinders in a fixed position. However, the adjustable cylinders andcollars 131,133 arranged in an open passage 135 may also be repeated inthe lower half of the mold. In a preferred embodiment, the cylinders ofthe molds may be formed of carbine.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable mold apparatus comprising: an outerrotatable cylinder means having a first eccentric bore and an innerrotatable cylinder means mounted in said first eccentric bore having afirst eccentric hole in its end face locatable in a desired position onan X-Y axis by selective rotation of said first outer and innerrotatable cylinder means in order to locate an adjustable wire meanstherein via collars extending from said outer and inner rotatablecylinder means exposed in a passage.
 2. The adjustable mold apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said outer rotatable cylinder means includes an outercollar having a first adjustment socket thereon; said inner rotatablecylinder means having an inner collar having a second adjustment socketthereon; and said first and second adjustment sockets being exposedwithin said passage.
 3. The adjustable mold apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid outer rotatable cylinder means is mounted in a cylindrical bore ofhousing.
 4. The adjustable mold apparatus of claim 1 wherein an end corepin means is aligned with said first eccentric hole of said innerrotatable cylinder means.
 5. The adjustable mold apparatus of claim 4wherein a wire means extends from said core pin.
 6. The adjustable moldapparatus of claim 5 wherein said mold apparatus has a parting linetransverse to the longitudinal axis of a mold cavity whereby when saidmold opens, said wire means is withdrawn from said inner rotatablecylinder means.
 7. The adjustable mold apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidouter and inner rotatable cylinder means are used to independentlyadjust the location of a wire means.
 8. The adjustable mold apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said collars have a plurality of adjustment socketsalong the perimeter of said collars.
 9. The adjustable mold apparatus ofclaim 1 including a housing including said inner and outer rotatablecylinder means and an outer collar adjacent said housing and an innercollar adjacent said outer collar.
 10. A method for injection molding ofa fiber optic ferrule, the method comprising the steps of providing amold capable of molding a body of the ferrule; and providing a core pincapable of forming an interior longitudinal passageway in the body ofthe ferrule wherein position of a wire means is adjustable from exteriorof the mold wherein the mold does not have to be removed from a press inorder to perform said adjustment.
 11. The method of claim 10 whereinsaid a wire means is capable of forming a passageway in the body of theferrule having a diameter smaller than the interior longitudinalpassageway formed by a core pin.
 12. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising the steps of: adjusting a receiver to position said wire to acenter of the body in the mold.
 13. The method of claim 12 furthercomprising the steps of: adjusting a rotatable cylinder having a collarprotruding therefrom into a passage exposed externally of said mold. 14.The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of inserting anadjustment tool through said passage and into an adjustment socket ofsaid collar in order to adjust said rotatable cylinder.
 15. The methodof claim 13 wherein adjustment of said rotatable cylindercorrespondingly adjusts said receiver oriented at an end of saidrotatable cylinder opposite said collar, said receiver for receiving awire means protruding from said core pin.
 16. An adjustable alignmentapparatus comprising: a first apparatus half including a housingincluding an adjustable member having at least one hole; a secondadjustable apparatus half including at least one protruding alignmentelement; and a receiver for receiving the alignment element forpositioning the alignment element via adjustment of the adjustablemember.
 17. The adjustable alignment apparatus of claim 16 wherein thealignment element is a wire to be resident within a core pin.
 18. Theadjustable alignment apparatus of claim 16 wherein the alignment elementis received by the first apparatus half.
 19. The adjustable alignmentapparatus of claim 16 further including a protruding collar exposed inan open passage.